Device for raising sunken vessels



Patented Sept. 21, 1920,

f WA j 5 W. C. BECKWITH. DEVICE FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 24. 1920.

Daviess-on Raisins sUNKEivvEssELs.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, WALTER C. BEcKWIT-H,

citizen of the United States of America,

residing at Fostoria, in thecounty of Seneca and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices "for Raising Sunken Vessels, of which the fllowing is a specification.

The object of the invention is'to provide an improved apparatus for elevatingsubmerged vessels.

Other and more specific objects will bein part obvious and in partrdescribed as the specification is proceeded with` In the accompanyingr drawings forming par-t of this'specication: rv v Figure l is a perspectiveview showing my invention in operation;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the elevating mechanism; and

Fig. 3 is a side View of one 0f the colf lapsible pontoons.

Referring more specifically to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 denotes the sunken vessel and 2 a floating body anchored there above by suitable moorings (not shown). The float- 4 consist of a barge, pontoon, raft or .the like. body 2 is shown any number could be ein ployed, placed end to end or in rows.

The numeral 3 denotes Va plurality of lift-` ing cables preferably arranged in pairs, the

cables of each pair being connected at theirv` lower ends to opposite sides of thev sunken vessel, by any improved fastening means indicated at 4. These cables pass overl idler rollers 5 and sheaves 6 attached to opposite sides of the floating body 2, it being understood that there will be an idler and a sheave for each cable and that an idler and a sheave on one side of the floating body, will preferably be identical with and Vlocated diametrically opposite to the idlerand sheave on the other side. After passing over' the idlers and sheaves the cables are connected at their upper ends to rocking frames 7 any suitable number of which may be employed. These frames comprise spaced uprights 8 pivoted to the side of the iioating body as at 9 and pivotally connected together at their upper ends as at 10 by means of a Y horizontally disposed connecting rod 11. It

is to beunderstood that the number of rocking frames on each' side of the heating bedy Applicationafiled'J'anuaryM, 1920.A 'Seriali."IQo.7`353,64.177. f

While only one floatingv will vary according `to `the number.V of lpairs of lifting cables employed. i'

The ypurpose of the rocking frames'is-toprovide leverage for lifting the sunken ves-v sel 'through 'the medium ofthe bles. These frames are 4rocked upon their pivots 9 i'byme'ans of cables-20 extending from theftop of'uprights 8 to power or hand` operated Winches V21'. Any-desired leverage or .length of pull can be obtained by elevating or loweringrthe point "of connection Specification ofLetters Patent. .Patantgd Sept. 21, i

`6 0 lifting ca between the cables 3 and the uprights 8V'asg'l preference or necessitymay dictate. l 'y In order to increase the buoyancy of the .sun en vessel :and thereby aid in the raising.- operation fI attach a pluralityfofl collapsible air bags or vcontainers-12m the lift-'" preferablyy one containerifor ing cables '3, each pair of cables. Attachment may be made in any suitablemanner, as by means of short ropes or wires 13 leading fromfthe cables to a reinforcing tape or the like 14 with which f the containers are provided. The containers are made of any approved collapsible material capable of withstanding great strain.

Considerable difficulty has been encountered in overcoming the great strain tc which these aircontainers are subjected t@ when attached to vessels submerged in very deep water. This diliculty is overcome in the present invention in two ways. First by attaching the bags to the lifting cables some distance above the sunken vessel instead of placingthein within or attaching them directly to the sunken vessel and thereby avoidingV the greater pressure encountered at the lower depths, and second -by providing the bags with an equalizing valvey 15,

the operation of'which will presently bel explained.

In practice the cables 3A are attached toA the sunken vessel by a diver. The bags 12 are then lowered in deflated or partially de` Hated condition and after attachment to the lifting cables are inflated by any means (not inflation operation, the valve will open and permit the air to escape until the internal pressure has been relieved. Likewise, this action occurs when the breught tc the surface. Genveisely the valve 'out the bag yto damage the same, as duringv 11o A inflated bag is being 15 is designed to remain closed during the inflation operation underl the water only until the pressures are e ualized when it will automatically open. ny well known and approved form of valve may be employed for this purpose.

When the rocking frame has been moved to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, and the submerged vessel raised with respect to the floating body 2, the cables 3 are made fast in any desired manner as to idler pulleys 5 and the slack taken up by returning thev frame to 'full line position and adjusting the connection between the rocking frame and the cables. Movement of the rocking frame in the direction of the arrow', Fig. 1 is repeated and the slack of cables 3 taken up until the submerged vessel has either been raised to the surface or raised sufliciently to permit of its being towed to shallow water.

Having thus described my invention what Iclaim is:

l. An apparatus for raising sunken vessels, comprising a buoyant body, a frame pivotally secured to said buoyant body, liiting cables secured at opposite ends to saidl frame and to said sunken vessel and passing over sheaves carried by said floating body and means for rocking said trame.

2. An apparatus for raising sunken vessels, comprisinga buoyant body, a frame pivotally secured to said buoyant body, lifting cables secured at their upper and lower endsrespectively to said frame and to the sunken vessel, and means Jfor rocking said frame on its pivot,.comprising a cable and winch. Y

8. An apparatus for raising sunken vessels, comprising a buoyant body, av frame, said iframe having upright members pivotally secured to said buoyant body at their lower ends and connected together at their upper ends by a horizontally disposed member, lifting'cables connected to said upright members and to said sunken vessel, and means for rocking said frame to place said lifting cables under tension. Y

In testimony whereof aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER C. BEGKVI'H.

Witnesses: GEO. R. BOREN,

J. ERNEST WOLFE. 

